Pickerington man charged in fatal crash

Car struck two trees in March, killing passenger's unborn child

Sep. 25, 2013

Written by

Francesca Sacco

The Eagle-Gazette Staff

Richard A. White

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LANCASTER — A Pickerington man has been charged with aggravated vehicular homicide after he reportedly went off the road and struck two trees in March, killing his girlfriend’s unborn child, according to court records.

Richard A. White, 20, was arraigned Monday in the Fairfield County Municipal Court on charges of aggravated vehicular homicide, a third-degree felony.

White is accused of killing his girlfriend’s unborn child after the 1998 Chevrolet Camaro he was driving went off the left side of Basil-Western Road and struck two trees March 29, according to a sheriff’s report. The crash occurred shortly after midnight.

Morgan E. Berkemeier, 18, of Canal Winchester, was taken by Basil Joint Fire District EMS to Grant Medical Center in Columbus for treatment. White also was taken to Grant Medical Center by Thurston-Walnut Township EMS.

Before the crash, a deputy in the area reported seeing a vehicle matching the description of White’s vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed, the report said. The deputy pulled out to stop the vehicle and was notified of an injury crash. When he arrived, the deputy found the same vehicle he had attempted to stop, the report said.

The deputy said the driver, later identified as White, was disoriented and that his words were slurred. It was noted in the report that White appeared to be under the influence of drugs. A search warrant was issued for White’s blood, which was collected without incident.

The Ohio Highway Patrol was called to assist with processing the scene. It was determined that the vehicle had been traveling between 100 and 110 mph before the crash, the report said.